The Saga of a Stewardess ~ Part II

Toni F. Ketchell-Murphy {1940 - 2017}
American Airlines Stewardess
Crew Survivor
American Airlines Flight 383
November 8, 1965
Greater Cincinnati Airport

Photo Courtesy: Hebron Fire Protection District

Boeing 727, N1996, was now airborne and operating as American Airlines Flight 383, a regularly scheduled non-stop flight to the Greater Cincinnati Airport {LGA} from New York LaGuardia Airport {LGA}. On board were 55 passengers, 6 crew members and 1 non-revenue American Airlines captain who was en route to Cincinnati for his next flying assignment.

Within minutes, the airliner was above the cloud layer, climbing towards 35,000 feet and headed for the Phillipsburg VORTAC. As filed, the flight would be conducted under Instrument Flight Rules {IFR} and once past Phillipsburg, would pick up JetAirway 49 to Allegheny {Pittsburgh}. From Pittsburgh, Jet Airway 80 would be flown to Dayton, Ohio where the flight would intercept Jet Airway 43 for a straight line approach to Runway 18 at the Greater Cincinnati Airport. Estimated flying time was 1 hour and 23 minutes with Standiford Airport, near Louisville, chosen as the alternate landing point.

Fate would intervene. Having departed late from New York and with thunderstorms approaching Cincinnati from the northwest, Captain Teelin and O’Neil requested, and were granted, clearance to deviate from the original flight plan. Their new route would put them on a more direct route to Cincinnati via Jet Airway 78 to Charleston, West Virginia, then Jet Airway 24 to Cincinnati. The pilots turned Flight 383’s course towards West Virginia.

Now with the aircraft still climbing, the stewardesses began their flight routines, which on this flight included serving dinners. Toni Ketchell moved about the first class cabin, glad to finally be on her last working flight of the day. She was looking forward to returning to New York, “deadheading” as a passenger on N1996 later that evening. She remembered her training; “Stay alert ladies!” and carried on with a smile.

The flight continued uneventfully towards Cincinnati. One hour and 7 minutes into the flight, the crew contacted the American Airlines company radio at Cincinnati and reported their estimated time of arrival as 7:05 pm.

With the flight approaching the Cincinnati area, Toni walked up the aisle checking seatbelts and ensuring seats and trays were in the upright position for landing. She stopped for a moment and talked to a passenger and then took her assigned position in the forward jump seat which was located on the bulkhead to the left of the flight deck door. Nearby, sat non-revenue passenger, Captain Weekly.

TOWER: "In sight cleared to land runway one eight American three eighty three”

AA 383: "We're cleared to land Roger. How far west is that precip line now?"

TOWER: "Looks like its just about over the field at this time sir, we're not getting any on the field, however”.

AA 383: “Okay”

TOWER: "If we have a wind shift I'll keep you advised as you turn onto final”.

AA 383: "Thank you very much we'd appreciate it.”

TOWER: "American three eighty three we are beginning to pickup a little rain right now”.

AA 383: “Okay”

TOWER: "American three eighty three you still got the runway Okay?”
AA 383: "Ah just barely we'll ah pickup the ILS here”.

TOWER: "American three eighty three approach lights, flashers and runway lights are all high intensity”.

AA 383: “Okay”………..Time 7:01:22 pm.

American Airlines Flight 383 had impacted a hillside near Hebron, Kentucky, two miles north and a 1/4 mile east of Runway 18.

STANDBY: PART III WILL BE POSTED SOON SO IN THE MEANTIME UPVOTE MY POST AND FOLLOW MY AVIATION BLOG ON STEEMIT!

Saga of a Stewardess for STEEMIT is compiled from my book, “Air Disasters Near the Greater Cincinnati Airport 1948 to 1968”, and from interviews I conducted with Toni Ketchell in 2010.